Sheet feeding apparatus



Nov. 19, 1940. Y 1 c. WILLIAMS ASHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed oct. 4,1939 s sheets-sheet 1 l lhlNvr-:NTR LEO C. WILLIAMS BY f ATTo'RNj v Nov.19, 1940. L, W ,AMS f 2,222,009

Y SHEET FEEDING APPAYRIATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1939 3 (Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR LEO c. WILLIAMS f .BY .Y

ATTORN f Nov. 19, 1940. I..

c. WILLIAMS 2,222,009

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed oct. 4Q 1939 5 sheets-,sheet 5 Hg): lm U DIm)r Is'l- 3g 3g f 26 ISI Y Iao IW 3.2

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nel V 93 94 IIe f 96 WI@ III 100l L( Vf -Ioy IoI@ Ios f I I 'L 1 99 I J7/ 9 IQS/JJL -97 II 96 J0 sa 7 l 92* I Iqz il a 0 3 INVENTOR Ioy/ "L8/fI Eo c. WILLIAMS aw. 107/1 la ATTORN e Patented Nov. 19,1940 v z,zzz,oo9snaar rsspmdarrmrus- A Leo C. Willi-ams, Pearl River, N. Y., assigner toDexter Folder Company, Fcarl River, N; Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication october 4, 193s, serial Np. 297,799

c 14 Claims.

This invention vrelates to sheet feeders and while capable of generaluse is more particularly adapted for embodiment in feeders for feedingsheets of paper, tin,.cardboard or other materials 5 to vsrious types ofmachines acting upon such shee . `One object of the present inventionisto pro-l vide an improved sheet feeder the sheet feeding action ofwhich is automatically controlled by l the elevator operating mechanismin such manner as to discontinue said action about or just prior to thetime the pile or supply of sheets on the elevator has been exhausted.

Another object of the present invention is to l provide an improvedsheet feeder wherein the pile elevator, when rapidly lowered by powerfor loading or reloading purposes, may be automatically stopped when itreaches the loading position. Y Y

. These and other objects of the present invention will appear as 'thefollowing description thereof proceeds and in order to more clearlyunderstand said invention reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofxa feeder embodying the present invention;

, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the feeder shown in Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of a pileelevatorand. feeder stopping device shown in Fig. 1, and illustratingdiagrammatically an electric circuit for said device; and

Fig. -iis an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of said stopping.device looking from the right of Figs. 1 and 3.-

Referring to the drawings,vwherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the-several views, the various movable parts ofthe feeder as well as certain stationaryA parts thereof may be mountedvon a frame of any suitable construction and the movable parts employedbolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and

the rear uprights 6 being connected together at the tops thereof by astay Ashaft lil. The cross 'members l have bolted or otherwise suitablysecured thereto a'metal apron or plate II against which the front sideof a pile or supply of sheets I2 bears during 'elevation 4of the samebyl mecha- 6 nislnl to be hereinafter described.

Referringfnow more particularly to Fig. 2, the drive for the feeder ispreferably comprised by a chain I3 driven fromgany suitable source ofpower. (not shown) and passing around a sprocket 10 I4 which is xed on ashort shaft I5. This short shaft I5 is journalled in a suitablebearingin'the adjacent front upright I and has also fixed thereon a spurpinion II. Spur pinion I8 meshes with a spur gear II which is fixed on.a transversely 15 extending cam shaft I8 that is .lournalled in suit-`able bearings in the front uprights l and is utilized to operatevariousparts of the feeder to be hereinafter described. 'I'he feeder includes-apileelevator and operating mechanism therefor pref- 20 I erablyconstructed as follows. s

to .raise the pile elevator hereinafter described 30 l and saidoperation is preferably effected by iiawl and ratchet mechanism of thegeneral type disi closed in the United States Patent No. 2,149,130 ygranted February 28, 1939, to Leonard Baker.

This pawl and ratchet mechanism includes the 35 pawl carrier 2i and apawl 23 pivoted thereon and adapted, under certain conditions, to engagea' ratchet 24 which is xed on the shaft 22.- It will thus appear that`through oscillation of the 'pawl carrier `2| by the described drivingconnections o therefor with the chain I3 and through engagement of thepawl 2l with the ratchet 24, the shaft 22 will be intermittentlyyrotated as stated above. Under these conditions left and right handworms 26 and 26 (Fig. 2) fixed on opposite ends of shaft 45 22 willlikewise be rotated. These worms 2li andg 28 mesh with left and righthand worm gears 21 and 2l whichfare fixed on shafts 28 and It, re-'spectively. that extend longitudinally of the feeder at opposite sidesthereof-and are Journalled in 5o suitable bearings on the front and rearuprights 5 and I.

Fixed on shafts 2ll and 30 are toothed sheaves 2l (Figs. 1 and 3) in theteeth of which are eneased linksaf chains I2 that are connected .at 55said elevator through the rear of the feeder when the elevator islowered by means for this purpose hereinafter described. It will 'be.noted that the .shafts 29 and 36 are rotated in opposite directionsaway from each other when the elevator is raised, and rotated inopposite directions' toward each other when the elevatoris lowered. u

The elevator 34 and pile of sheets I2 thereon are raised intermittentlyas the sheets are fed off the top of the pile by sheet separating andforwarding devices hereinafter described, and to keep the` top of saidpile at the proper feeding level the elevator and its operatingmechanism are preferably controlled by pneumatic means comprising a pilegovernor 36, a mask 31 and-a mask detent 38 preferably mounted,constructed and operated as disclosed `in lthe United :States Patent No.2,156,648 granted May- 2, 1939, to Leonard Baker, George A. MartinandLeo C. Williams and needing no detail description herein. Y

The feeder is provided with means for supplying air under pressurel to'pile -and sheet winding devices, means for creating vacuum in the Sheetseparating and forwarding devices, and, `means for lowering and raisingthe pile elevator for loading and reloading purposes, and said means arepreferably mount-ed, lconstructed and operated as follows. Extendingtransversely of the feeder and secured in any suitable manner in thefront uprights are shafts 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) which have bolted orotherwise suitably secured thereto a pair of spaced brackets 40. Boltedor otherwise suitably secured to the spaced brackets 40 .is an electricmotor 4I. Fixed on the armature shaft 42 of motor -CI is a sprocket 43around whichpasses a chain 44 that also passes around a sprocket 45.'I'his sprocket 45 is fixed on one end of a shaft 46 which, in turn, isconnected by a coupling 41 with the shaft 48 of a pump 49 (Fig. 2)suitably constructed to supply air under pressure from one side thereofand to create vacuum in another side thereof.

The pump 49 is bolted or otherwise suitably se cured to a pair of spacedbrackets 50 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured on one of thecross shafts 39 and a third cross shaft 5I that is secured in anysuitable manner in the front uprights 5. Connected with the air pressureside of pump 49 is one end of a conduit 52 the opposite end of which isconnected with a compressed air tank 5 3 that is secured in any suitablemanner on .the feeder frame.

The compressed air tank 53 has connected therewith one end of a conduit54 the opposite end of which is connected with one part 55 of a tubularshaft indicated broadly at 56 (Fig. 2) which extends transversely of thefeeder and is secured in any suitable manner in the front uprights `5near the tops thereof. The tubular shaft 56 is centrally divided to formthe air conduit 55 and a vacuum conduit 51. The vacuum conduit 51 hasconnected therewith one end of a conduit 58 the opposite end of which isconnected with the vacuum side of pump 49. The conduits 55 and 51 areconnected with the air and vacuum sides, respectively, of a valvemechanism indicated broadly at 59 which,through the describedconnections therefor with the -pump 49, controls delivery of air underpressure to pile and sheet winding devices, and the making and breakingof vacuum in sheet separating and forwarding .devices hereinaften,referred to. y'I'.he

-mounting, construction, and operation of this valve mechanism is thesame as that of the valve mechanism disclosed in vthe above mentionedUnited States Patent No. 2,156,648 and needs no detail descriptionherein.

' Mounted von the feeder frame and secured thereto in any suitablemanner, is an auxiliary frame 60 (Fig. 1) comprised by side members 6Iand a cross member 62 adjustable along said side members to variouspositions. The cross member 62 has mounted thereon the pile governor 36,the pile and sheet winding devices 63 and 64, respectively, and thesheet separating devices comprised by cylinders 65 and rubber suctioncups 66 that are raised and lowered through the making and breaking ofvacuum in said cylinders. 'I'he construction and operation of thesesheet separating devices is the same as the construction and operationof the sheet separating devices disclosed in the United States PatentNo. 2,156,648 above referred to and need no further detail descriptionherein. It might be pointed out, however, that the cylinders 65 areconnected by exible conduits 61 with the vacuum side of the valvemechanism 59 which controls the making and breaking of vacuum in saidcylinders at predetermined intervals. Likewise, the pile and sheetwinding devices 63 and 64. respectively, are connected by flexibleconduits 68 and 69, respectively, with the air side of the valvemechanism 59 which controls the delivery of air under pressure to saidpile and sheet winding devices at proper intervals.

The separated and winded sheets are forwarded one after another from thetop of the pile by sheet forwarding devices comprised by cylinders 10(Figs. 1 and 2) and rubber suction cups 1I which are raised and loweredthrough the making and breaking of vacuum in said cylinders. These sheetforwarding devices are also constructed and operated in the same manneras lthe sheet forwarding devices disclosed in the United States PatentNo. 2,156,648 referred to above and need no detail description herein.It

' is pointed out, however, that sheet forwarding devices have swingingmovement to advance the sheets from the pile I2, and for this purposethe cylinders 10 are secured to arms 12 which, in turn, are fixed on arock shaft 13 that extends transversely of the feeder frame and isjournalled thereon in any suitable manner. The sheet forwarding devicesare rocked forwardly by a cam 14 (Fig. 2) fixed on the cam shaft I8, andsaid sheet forwarding devices are rocked rearwardly by a spring (notshown). The cam 14 engages a roller 15 which is journalled on one end ofavcam strap 16 extending over the cam shaft I8. The opposite end of thecam strap 16 is pivotally connected with an arm 11 which is fixed on therock shaft 13.

The cylinders 19 of the sheet forwarding devices have connectedtherewith corresponding ends of flexible conduits 18 the opposite endsof which are connected with the vacuumside of the valve mechanism 59which also controls the making and breaking of vacuum in said cylindersat predetermined intervals.

The sheets separated from the pile I2 by the sheet separating devicesare taken by the sheet forwarding devices and delivered thereby to asheet conveyor which advances the sheets to the machine with which thefeeder is associated. As herein shown, this conveyor includes spacedfeed rollers 19 around which' pass a plurality of conveyor tapes 88 thatalso pass around a front conveyor roller (not shown). The feed rollers19 are secured in any suitable manner to a shaft 8| which extendstransversely of the feeder and is 'journalled in suitable bearings inthe front uprights 5. The shaft 8| is driven from the short shaft I5 bya spur gear 82 fixed on said short shaft and which meshes with a spurpinion 10 83 that is xed on the shaft 8|. Cooperating with a pair of thefeed rollers 19 are drop rollers 84 which are journalled on arms 85(Fig. 2) that are adjustably secured to a rock shaft 86 extendingtransversely of the feeder frame and journalled thereon in any suitablemanner. The drop rollers 84 are raised and lowered at certain intervalsthrough the action of a cam 81 which is secured to or formed integrallywith a valve driving disk 88 that is xed on the cam shaft 20 I8 andforms part of the valve mechanism 59.

The cam 81 engages a roller 89 which is jour'- nalled on an arm 98 thatis fixed on the `rock shaft 86.

In the normal operation of the feeder the sheets are separated andforwarded from the pile by the sheet separating and forwarding devicesand delivered by the latter to the conveyor'which advances the 4sheetsto the machine to be' fed. As the sheets are so separated, forwarded andconveyed, the pile elevator is raised -intermittently to compensate forremoval of the sheets from the pile and to maintain the top of thelatter at the proper feeding level for the operation of the sheetseparating and forwarding This intermittent elevation of the pile 9|with the air supply conduit 55 and said casingis further connected by aiiexible conduit 92 with the casing for the detent 38. This detent 38through raising and lowering movement in accordance. with the raisingand lowering movement of the governor 38, controls the movement t l0 ofthe pawl mask 31 which, in turn,-controls the operation of the pawl andratchet mechanism 23, 24 and the intermittent upward movement -of thepile elevator, all as described in the United States Patent No.2,156,648 above referred to.`

During normal operation of the feeder, thev pump 49 is driven by themotor 4I to supply air under pressure to the pile and sheet`windingdevices `83 and'54, respectively, and to create vac- Auum in thecylinders 85 and 18 of the sheet separating and forwarding devices,respectively. The motor 4I is of the three phase typesupplied with,current from any suitable' source through lead wires 93, 94 and 95(Fig. 3). Wire 93 is connectedby a wire 96 with one terminal of anormally C5 open motor starting switch 91 of the push button type. Thisswitch 91 is arranged in a switch box 98 indicated in broken lines inFig. 3 and mounted by suitable means at any convenient point on thefeeder frame. The other terminal 70 of the switch 91 is connected by awire 99 with a coil |88 of a magnetic switch I8| 4arranged in a controlYbox |82 indicated in broken lines in Fig.

3 and secured by suitable means at any con-` venient point on the feederframe. 'I5 The coil |88, in turn, is connected by a wire |83 with thewire 95 and it will thus appear that when the 'switch 91 is closed bythe machine attendant, the coil |88 will be energized and actuateswitch'll to close it in contact' with' terminals |84, and |88 of wires93, 94 and 95. 5:

Closing of the switch- |8| startsthe motor 4I which receives currentfrom wires 93, 94 and 95 the switch lul by a wire un. when the switch 15I8| is closed, the wire I I8 is connected by said switch with theterminal III of a Wire II2 which is connected with one terminal of anormally closed stop switch ||3 (Figs. l, 3 and 4). This switch ||3 isof the push button type and is ar- 20 ranged in a switch box I I4 thatis suitably secured to a plate' ||5 which, in turn, is bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the side member 8. 4The other terminal ofthe switch II3 isconnected by a wire ||8 with one terminal of a sec- 25ond normally closed stop switch ||1 of the push button type and arrangedin the switch box 98.

` 'I'he other terminal of the switch II1 is connected lby-a wire ||8with the wire 98 which. as previously described,v is connected with the30 lead wire 93. It will thus appear that when the vswitch 91 isreleased by the machine attendant and opened disconnecting the wires 96and 99, the coil |88 receives current from the lead wire IIS, switch H3,wire I I2, terminal III and 'wires ||8 and 99. Thecoil |88 thuscontinues to be energized and maintains the switch I 8| closed,regardless of the opening of the switch 91. It will further appear, thatwhen the switch ||3 or |I1vis actuated to open the same, the previouslydescribed current for maintaining the coil |88 energized is brokencausing said coil to be deenergized .thus opening the switch I 8| andstopping the motor 4|.

In accordance with the present invention the a feeder is provided withmeans for stopping the sheet feeding operation when a supply of sheetselevated .intermittently by the mechanism described for this purpose isnearly exhausted. Said 5 means stops the pump I9 and prevents furtheroperationof the sheet separating and forwarding devices which, ifallowed to continue in operation when the pile is completely exhausted,might cause trouble in the feeder and damage to said 55 devices. lSaidfeeder stopping means is preferably mounted, constructed and operated asfollows. f

Fixed on the elevator chain shaft 38 as by a set screw ||9 is anexternally threaded cylinder e0 |28 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). This cylinder|28 is positioned on the-:shaft 38 between the sheaves 3| thereon andabove the switch supporting plate II5. Cooperating with the threadedcylinder |28, and movable 'therealong through rotation of said 85cylinder,is an internally threaded collar I2 Ihaving -a flattenedportion |22 on the underside thereof..

Rotation of the collar |2|y relative to the cylinder |28 is prevented bythe upper end of the plate I|5 which projects into a groove |23 formedin 70 said collar.

Pivotally mounted on a pin |24 suitably secured in the plate ||5 at theupper end thereof v is an arm |25 which is spaced outwardly from saidplate and extends beneath the flattened portion 75.

|22 of the collar |2|. 'Ihe arm |25 is retained against displacementfrom the pin |24 by a cotter pin- |26. Adjustably secured to one side ofthe arm |25 and adjacent the pin |24 is a block |21 provided with anelongated slot |28/through which passes a bolt |29 that is threaded in asuitable opening in said arm. The upper side of the block |21 is formedwith a cam track |30 which extends in the path of movement of thecollarv |2| to be engaged by the attened portion |22 thereof.

Pivotally mounted on a pin |3| and at the opposite end and one side ofthe arm |25 is a trigger |32 which normally rests by gravity on the pushbutton |33 of the switch ||3. 'I'he pin I3| is secured in any suitablemanner on the arm |25 and endwise displacement of the trigger |32 onsaid pin is prevented by a cotter pin |34. The trigger |32 is held inits normal vertical position by a pull spring |35 one end of which isengaged over a pin |36 secured in said trigger, the opposite end of saidspring being connected at |31 with the block |21. Rotation of thetrigger |32 by the spring I 35 beyond the normal vertical position isprevented by a stop pin |38 which is secured in said trigger and engagesthe under side of the arm |25.

It will thus appear that when the chain shafts 29 and 30 areintermittently rotated during'normal operation of the feeder to raisethe elevator and keep the top of the pile of sheets thereon at theproper feeding level, the shaft 30 and threaded cylinder |20 thereon arerotated in the direction of the arrow U (Fig. 4). This rotation of shaft30 and cylinder |20 causes the collar |2| to move along said cylinder inthe direction of the'arrow U' (Fig. 3) until theattened portion |22 ofsaid collar engages the cam track |30 on the block |21. Engagement ofthe cam track |30 as aforesaid occurs when only a few sheets of thesupply remain on the elevator at which time the collar |2| depresses theann |26. trigger |32 and push button |33 and thus opens the switch H3.Opening of the switch I I3 breaks the circuit to coil |00 that includesthe wires 93. 96. I8, the switch H1, thev wires ||6, ||2, theterminaland wires ||0 and 99. This circuit being broken, the coil |00 isdeenergized, the switch |0| is opened, and the motor 4| and the pump 49are stopped. Stopping of the pump 49 renders the sheet separating andforwarding devices ineffective to separate and forward the remainingsheets ony the elevator. This. in turn, prevents further operation ofthe governor 36 and further raising of the elevator. It will furtherappear that the sheet feeding 'operation may be stopped withmore or lesssheets remaining on the elevator. as desired. by loosening the bolt |29and sliding the block |21 in opposite directions on the arm |26. Whenthe block is moved to the right (Fig. 3) more sheets will remain on theelevator, and when the block is moved to the leftless sheets will remainon the elevator.

|32 and turns it clockwise (Fig. 3) against the i tension of the spring|36 until said trigger clears end of a rod |62.

the push button |33 of the switch I3. The switch ||3, through the actionof a spring (not shown) is then closed whereupon the switch 91 is againpushed by the machineattendant to start the motor 4I- in the mannerpreviously described. Starting of the motor 4|, of course, starts thepump 49 through rotation of the shaft 46 which, as previously described,is connected with said motor and said pump. The shaft 46 forms part of apower mechanism for rapidly raising and lowering the elevator forloading and reloading purposes, and said mechanism is preferablymounted, constructed and operated as follows.

Secured in any suitable manner in spaced relation on the uppermost crossshaft 39 and the cross shaft 6| are brackets |39 (Figs. 1 and 2) whichhave bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto in spaced relationplates |40 provided therein with bearings for the shaft 46 and throughwhich said shaft extends. Mounted in spaced relation on the shaft 46between the plates |40 are clutches |4| and |42 of well knownconstruction and a clutch engaging and releasing device |43 therebetweenprovided with a grooved collar |44. The clutch |4| has a part |45 fixedon the -shaft 46 and a part |46 loose on said shaft and provided with aspur pinion |41. The spur pinion |41 meshes with a similar pinion |48which is journalled in any suitable manner on one of the plates |40.This pinion |43 meshes with a small spur gear |43 which is fixed on ashaft |50 journalled in suitable bearings in the plates |40. The clutch|42 has a part 5| fixed on the shaft 46 and a part |52 loose on saidshaft and provided with a spur pinion |63. 'I'he spur pinion |53 mesheswith a large spur gear |54 that is xed on the shaft |50. The shaft |50projects outwardly through the outermost plate |40 and fixed on theprojecting end of said shaft is a sprocket |55 v around which passes achain |56 that also passes around a sprocket |51 (Fig. 1) that is fixedon the outwardly projecting end of the shaft 22.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured at one side of the feeder on theadjacent uprlghts 6 and 6 are brackets |66 (Fig. 1) in which isjournalled a rock shaft |69 having fixed on the rear end thereof ahandle |60. Fixed on the front end of the rock shaft |69 is an arm |6|(Fig. 2) having'pivotally' connected therewith the upper 'I'he lower endof rod |62 is pivotally connected with one arm |63Aof a bell crank |64which is pivotally mounted on an arm |66 that is ilxed in any `suitablemanner between the plates |46 on a stay shaft |66 (Figs. 1 and 2) whichconnects said plates together. The other ann |61 of bell |64 ispivotally connected as by a pinl and. slot connection |66 with a fork|69 that is .1 v in the groove |44 of the clutch engaging andreleasing-.device |43.

The rock shaft |69 has also iimd thereon-an arm |10 having a pin andslot connection |1| with one .end of a shift rod |12, which extendstransversely of the feeder and is slidably mounted in suitable bearingon the front uprights 6. Fixed on the shift rod |12 is a fori. |13 whichis engaged in a groove |14 formed in the pawl mask 31. The shift rod |12and the handle |60 are normally maintained in the inoperative full linepositions thereof shown in Fig. 2 by a spring |16 that is mounted onsaid shift rod between a collar |16 thereon andthe adjacent frontupright 6. In the inoperative positions of the handle and shift rod |12,and during normal operation of the feeder, the parts |46, |46and |5|,|52 of isA nected.

'When the sheet feeding operation is automatically stopped and theswitch ||3 is again closed as previously described, the machineattendant pushes switch 91 to start the motor 4| and then moves thehandle |60 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. When the handle |60 is movedto the left (Fig. 2) the shift rod |12, the fork |13, and the mask 31are moved to the right so 'that said mask lifts the pawl 23 and holds itout of engagement with the ratchet 24. Upon shifting of the handle |60to the left (Fig. 2), therod |62 and arm |63 are raised, thus moving thearm |61 and fork |69 to the right (Fig. 2) and connecting the parts |45,|46 of clutch |4|. When the two parts of clutch |4| are connected asabove described, the shaft 22 is continuously and rapidly driven by themotor 4| through clutch |4|, gears |41, |48 and |49, and chain |56 backto its operative position. The machine attendant then actuates switch||1 to open it and thus deenergize4 coil |00 so that switch |0| isopened and the motor 4| and pump 49 is stopped while a pile of sheets isloaded on the elevator. Switch ||1 closes when released by the machineattendant but at this time switch 91 is open and switch |0| will not beactuated to start motor 4|.

If, for any reason, the machineI attendant fails to move the handle |60as aforesaid and stop the elevator when it reaches its proper loweredposition for loading or reloading, means are provided in accordance withthe present invention to automatically perform this function and saidmeans are preferably mounted, constructed vand operated as follows.

When the elevator is rapidly lowered by the motor 4| as previouslydescribed, the chain shaft 30 and threaded cylinder |20 thereon arerotated in the direction of the arrow D (Fig. 4) As the elevator beginsto lower, the collar |2| moves along the cylinder |20 in the directionof the arrow D' (Fig. 3) and out ofl engagement with the cam track |30on the block |21. Disengagement ofthe cam track |30 as aforesaid, allowsthe spring |35 to return the arm |25 and trigger |32 to their normalfull line positions as shown in Fig. 3, the arm |25 moving upwardly andthe trigger |32 turning in a counter-clockwise direction and intoengagement with thepush button |33 of the switch ||3. Continued loweringof the elevator and rotation of the chain shaft 30 and cylinder |20moves the collar |2| further along said cylinder until the iiattenedportion |22 en-v -the arm |25, trigger |32, and push button |33 so thatthe switch l I3 is opened and stops the motor v4| in the mannerpreviously described.

The elevator having been lowered and stopped in its proper predeterminedposition for loading or reloading, and a pile of sheets having beenplaced on the elevator, the latter and the pile of sheets are rapidlyelevated until the top of the pile is brought into proper position forthe normal sheet feeding operations. Accordingly, the machine attendantiirst closes the switch ||3 in the manner previously described and thenpushes the switch 91 to start the'motor-M and pump 49.

.Upon starting of the motor 4| the machine attendant moves the handle|60 to the right (Fig. 2) so that -the rod |62v and arm |63 are lowered,thus moving the arm |61 and fork l|69 to the left (Fig. 2) andconnecting the parts |5| and |52 of clutch |42. When the two parts ofclutch |42 are connected as above described, the shaft 22'iscontinuously and rapidly driven by the motor 4| through clutch |42,gears |53 and |54, and chain |56 and the elevator and pile the sheetsthereon are rapidly raised.

As the top of the rapidly raising pile approaches the proper feedinglevel the elevator is stopped by the machine attendant moving the handle|60 to its inoperative position which action throws the clutch |42 outof operation and disconnects the drive from the motor 4| to the shaft22. Normal operation of the feeder may now be resumed in the mannerpreviously described through intermittent elevation of the elevator andpile of sheets, action of the sheet separating and forwarding devices,and operation kof the pump 49 by the motor 4|.

It is to be noted, that when the elevator and pile of sheets thereon arerapidly raised .by the motor 4| as previously described, the chain shaft30 is again rotated in the direction of the arrow raise, the collar |2|through rotation of the cylinder |20 is moved in the direction of thearrow U' (Fig. 3) and out of engagement with the cam the foregoingdescription and while said description and the accompanying drawings setforth with more or less particularity one embodiment l of the invention,it is to be expressly understood that said invention is not limited tosaid embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is: f

1. In a sheet feeder having sheet feeding means, a pile elevator, andmechanism including a driven shaft for intermittently raising theelevator and pile during feeding of sheets from the top of said pile bysaid sheet feeding means, motor driven means for rendering; the sheetfeeding means eifective tofeed sheets from the top of the pile asaforesaid, and means on said driven shaft for throwing said motor drivenmeans and the sheet feeding means out of operation when the elevatorreaches a certain height and prior to feeding of all the sheetstherefrom. A

2. In a sheet feeder having suction sheet feeding means, a pileelevator, and mechanism including a driven shaft forintermittentlyraising the elevator and pile during feeding of sheets from thetop ofsaid pile by said suction sheet feeding means, motor-driven vacuum pumpmeans for. vrendering the suction sheet 4feeding means effective to feedsheets from the top of the pileV 'U (Fig. 4) and that as the elevatorbeginsto as aforesaid, and means on said driven shaft for throwing saidmotor driven pump means and said suction sheet feeding means out ofoperation prior to feeding of all of the sheets from said pile.

3. In a sheet feeder having pneumatic means for acting on the sheets anda pile elevator cooperating wlth the pneumatic means and including adriven shaft, a device forA throwing said pneumatic means out ofoperation when the pile elevator reaches a predetermined position, andmeans mounted on and actuated by said driven shaft for operating saiddevice.

4. In a sheet feeder having pneumatic sheet handling means, a pileelevator, and means for raising said elevator, a device for throwingsaid pneumatic sheet handling means out of operation when the elevatoris raised to a predetermined position, and means for actuating thedevice comprising driven threaded means and an element cooperating withsaid driven threaded means and movable therealong through rotationthereof into engagement with said device.

5. In a sheet feeder having pneumatic' sheet handling means, electricmotor driven pump means connected therewith, a pile elevator and adriven shaft therefor, the combination of means for supplying current tothe electric motor of said pump means and comprising a circuit therefor,a device in the circuit for breaking it to thereby stop the motor andpump and the sheet handling action of said sheet handling means, andmeans mounted on and actuated by the driven pile elevator shaft foroperating said device and breaking said circuit when the elevator hasbeen raised to a predetermined position by said shaft.

6. In a sheet feeder having pneumatic sheet handling means, electricmotor driven pump means connected therewith, a pile elevator and adriven shaft therefor, the combination of means for supplying current tothe electric motor of said pumpfmeans and comprising a circuit therefor,a switch in the circuit for breaking itto thereby stop the motor andpump and the sheet handling action of said sheet handling means, athreaded cylinder mounted4 on and rotated by the driven pile elevatorshaft, and a collar mounted on said cylinder and movable therealongthrough rotation thereof for actuating said switch and breaking saidcircuit when the elevator has been raised to'a predetermined position bysaid shaft.

'7. In a sheet feeder having pneumatic sheet handling means, electricmotor driven pump means connected therewith, l. pile elevator 'and a.

driven shaft theretoa'the combination o! moans `formplyinscurremtotlumicmototsdd pump means andeemsdrctherdca switch in thecir-edt ser mit to-thehy, stop themotorsndpmpsndthedieethanding actionof said sheet handling means. a threaded' cylinder mounted on androtated by theldriven pile elevator shaft, a collar mounted on seidcylinder and movable therealong through rotation thereof for actuatingsaid switch and breaking said circuit when the elevator has been raisedto a predetermined. position by said shaft, and means for holding saidcollar against rotation relative to said cylinder and for guidingitduring movement along the cylinder.

8. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator including a driven shaftandmeans for driving said shaft to rapidly lower the elevator, means forstopping said driving means and the shaft when aaaaooo the elevator islowered to a predetermined 'posi` tion, and means mounted on andactuated by said shaft for operating said second named means.

9. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator and means for rapidlylowering said pile elevator to load or reload the same, a device forstopping said means when the elevator is lowered to a predeterminedposition thereby, and means for actuating the stopping device comprisingdriven threaded means and an element movable thereby along the same intoengagement with said device. Y 10. Ina sheet feeder having a pileelevator, a driven shaft therefor, and an electric motor for driving theshaft, the combination of means for supplying current to the motorcomprising a circuit therefor, a device in the circuit for breaking it,and means on said driven shaftmovable thereby along the sameand adaptedto operate said device, break said circuit, and stop said motor andshaft when said elevator is moved thereby to a predetermined position.

11. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator, a driven shaft therefor,and an electric motor for driving the shaft to rapidly lower theelevator, the combination of means for supplying current to the motorcomprising a.y circuit therefor, a switch in the circuit for breakingit, a threaded cylinder mounted on and rotated by the driven shaft, anda collar mounted on said cylinder and movable therealong throughrotation thereof for actuating said switch, breaking said current, and

stopping said motor and shaft when the elevator is lowered thereby to apredetermined position.

12. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator, a driven shaft therefor,and an electric motor for driving the shaft to rapidly lower theelevator. the combination of means for supplying current to thev motorcomprising a circuit therefor, a switch in the circuit for breaking it,a threaded cylinder mounted on and rotated by the driven shaft, and acollar mounted on said cylinder and movable therealong through rotationthereof for actuating said switch, breaking said circuit, stopping saidmotor and shaft when the elevator is lowered thereby to a predeterminedposition, and

' electric motor for said pump means, the combination of a drivenelevator shaft, a device for Stom sani motor, and means mounted onelevator init and movable thereby in opposite direction along; the same,said means, when 'movedinonedirectionbeingadaptedtoepenteoo said devicewhen the elevator is intermittently raised to a 4predetermined position,and said means, when moved in the opposite direction;

being adapted to operate said device when said elevator is rapidlylowered to a predetermined position.

14. l'nv a sheet feeder having pneumatic means for acting on the sheets,electric motor driven pump means connected with the pneumatic means, andan elevator for the sheets raised intermittently during operation of thepneumatic means and adapted to be rapidly lowered by the electricmotor-for said pump means, the combination of a driven elevator shaft,means for supplying current to the electric motor and comprising 75 acircuit therefor, a normally closed switch in the circuit. a threadedcylinder mounted on and'rotated by the Ydriven elevator shaft, and acollar mounted on said cylinder and`movable therealong in oppositedirections through rotation thereof in opposite directions. said collar,when moved in one direction. being adapted to open thus discontinue theaction o! said pneumatic means when the elevator is intermittentlyraised to a predetermined position, and said collar, when moved in theopposite direction, being adapted to open said switch and stop the motorwhen thel elevator la rapidly lowered thereby -to a predeterminedposition. said switch and stop. the motorand pump and LEO c. WILLIAMS.

